Texas Rangers Blog

Rangers sit Choo, Moreland; Donnie Murphy gets first career start at first

Texas Rangers' Donnie Murphy hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, June 1, 2014, in Washington. The Rangers won 2-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

And after watching Shin-Soo Choo and Mitch Moreland power through sore left ankles for 10 days, Rangers manager Ron Washington decided to take advantage of an upcoming off day and give both some extra rest. Choo and Moreland, who also has some minor back stiffness, will sit for Sunday’s road trip finale.

Using a glove he borrowed from catcher Chris Gimenez Sunday morning, Donnie Murphy will make his first career start at first base. Michael Choice will replace Choo in left field and atop the batting order.

“I think anybody can go over there for a day,” manager Ron Washington said before he was reminded that his character in the movie “Moneyball,” said something very contradictory.

“OK, I think Donnie is a good enough athlete to go over there and play for one day,” Washington acknowledged.

Washington and Murphy were to go have a crash course on the position about 90 minutes before first pitch. Murphy is generally listed at 5-10, so height and ability to stretch for low balls may be a challenge. But Washington said he did not want to put both of his catchers into the lineup together.

“When the ball is hit to me, I’ll try to field grounders,” Murphy said. “When it’s hit somewhere else, I’ll just run to the base. That might be the most difficult thing for me is to remember to go to the base as soon as the ball is hit. That’s new for me. But with my career, anytime you can show you can play another position and become a little more versatile, that’s important.”

Washington said he believes giving Choo and Moreland Sunday off and having an off day on Monday will help refresh both.

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